Word Origin & History

total late 14c., from O.Fr. total, from M.L. totalis "entire, total" (as in summa totalis "sum total"), from L. totus "all, whole, entire," of unknown origin. The noun is 1557, from the adj.; the verb is 1716, from the noun; meaning "to destroy one's car" first recorded 1954. Totality is from 1598; in the eclipse sense, 1842. Total war is attested from 1937, in ref. to a concept developed in Germany.

Example Sentences for total

He saw Dan the Spy coming from the total meeting last night.

The total length of the body is two inches and a quarter when the wings are closed.

The total metallic resistance of the circuit should not be less than 10 ohms.

Yet, in her total lack of humour, Mrs. Ascher is as bad as her husband is.

She displayed no lack of courage, but a total lack of training and knowledge of how to fight.

This $10 total does not include the cost of the concrete nor of the steel.

Every cause that has the effect of reducing the total of wild-life population is now a matter of importance to mankind.

The total number of holes drilled in the reconstruction of the track was 31,000.

Again: The total disuse of ardent spirits, on the part of parents, is the only plan of safety in bringing up their children.